Method for treatment of lubricated stranded wire structures



1964 J. J. GRIMES, JR., ETAL METHOD FOR TREATMENT OF LUBRICATED STRANDEDWIRE STRUCTURES Filed Aug. 15, 1961 INVENTORS JOHN J. GR/MES, Jr. andW/LBE/ZZA. LUCHT By $71 440 Attorney iii United States Patent Ofilice3,l54l,44fl Patented Get. 27, 1964 METHOD FQR TREATMENT OF LUBRICATEDSTRANDED WERE STRUCTURES John J. Grimes, in, Hamden, and Wilbert A.Lucht,

Grange, Conn, assignors to United States Steel Corporation, acorporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 131,514

4 Claims. (Cl. 148l6) This invention relates to a method of andapparatus for making stranded wire structures. We have found that thebreaking strength of stranded wire structures, particularly wire ropemade of ordinary steel or alloy steel will be improved if stressrelieved at temperatures of between 600 and 1100 F. However, most wireropes have a lubricant thereon and such lubricants are desirable forprotecting the rope and permitting freedom of movement of the individualwires in the rope. Wire rope lubricants are well known in the wire ropeart and are manufactured and sold by many suppliers. In general theselubricatnts have an asphaltic or petroleum type base. The lubricant mustbe thin enough to reach the inner wires of the rope and yet have theability to cling to the wires. The lubricants are not ordinarily solublein water but are soluble in cerosene or any of the other lighterhydro-carbons. The lubricants must not break down in the presence ofacid fumes, but must be acidfree so as to not corrode the rope. Whilethe flash point may vary somewhat it is generally between 400 and 500 F.The Saybolt Furol viscosity of typical lubricants at 210 F. may be amaximum of 600 to 800 and at 250 F. a maximum of between 100 and 150.Suitable lubricants used by the American Steel and Wire Division ofUnited States Steel Corporation are marketed by such companies as CitiesService Oil Company and The Texas Company. Their trade names for theselubricants are Cities Service i50-X and Texaco C. Because of thepresence of lubricants in wire rope we have found that the wire ropecannot be stress relieved in the ordinary manner because the lubricantwill burn off. If no lubricant is present, damage to the rope may occur.Some types of wire rope use fiber cores and with such rope the fibercore will be burnt out. Even though the rope is stress relieved withoutdamage it will not be suitable for use without futher lubrication, thisbeing an additional expense. In a few cases it is not desired to haveany lubricant on the rope, but ordinary stress relieving will leave therope in a discolored condition.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide an improved methodof stress redieving stranded wire structure, such as a wire rope.

Another object is to provide such a method in which the wire rope islubricated as it is stress relieved.

A further object is to provide a method of making an improved lubricatedstranded wire structure.

Still another object is to provide a method of simultaneously cleaningand stress relieving a stranded wire structure.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus suitable for carryingout our methods.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawing, in which the single figureis a schematic view of the apparatus of our invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 2indicates a payofi reel for wire rope R. The wire rope passes frompayoff reel 2 through a roll straightener 4 and a conduit 6 and thenaround a power driven capstan 8 to a take-up reel 10. The conduit 6includes a glass tube 12 adjacent the entry end thereof. In place ofglass any electrical insulating material may be used. The conduit 6 alsoincludes a steel tube 14 surrounded by a water jacket 16 having a waterinlet 13 and a water outlet 20 at opposite ends thereof. An inductioncoil 22 surrounds the glass tube 12 and is powered from a suitablesource, not shown. A tube 24 may be connected to the glass tube 12 atthe entry end thereof with a seal, not shown, being provided adjacentthe roll straightener 4. Nitrogen or other suitable neutral ordeoxidizing gas such as argon, carbon monoxide or the like may beintroduced into tube 24 through a pipe 26. A wire rope lubricant isdelivered to the conduit 6 through a pipe 28 by means of a pump 30mounted on lubricant tank 32. Heat may be supplied to the pipe 28 bymeans of a resistant coil 33. A lubricant return line 34 is connected tothe exit end of conduit 6.

In carrying out our invention a wire rope to be treated is threaded fromthe reel 2 through roll straightener 4 and the conduit 6 to the capstan8. In order to purge the conduit 6 of air, nitrogen or other suitablegas may be introduced through the pipe 26. However, this purging may beomitted in the practice of our invention. The lubricant, which may beheated by any suitable means if necessary, is delivered to the conduit 6through the line 28 and will fill the conduit. Preferably the conduit 6will slant slightly downwardly toward reel 2 when used in this manner.Heat is applied by means of the induction coil 22 and the rope iscontinuously pulled by means of the capstan 8 through the conduit 6.Suflicient tension is applied to the rope R to at least keep it taut.The induction coil 22. heats the wires of the wire rope R to atemperature of between 600 and 1100 F., this temperature varyingsomewhat depending upon the type of steel makin up the rope. As the wirerope R passes from the induction coil 22 through the conduit 6 it willgradually cool to a temperature below the flash point of the wire ropelubricant while still surrounded by the lubricant. Further cooling ofthe wire rope takes place in the air when the wire rope leaves theconduit 6. If desired other means may be provided for cooling the wirerope after it leaves the conduit 6. Other apparatus may be used forcarrying out our method, it only being necessary that the wire rope passthrough a container containing the lubricant with the wire rope beingheated to its stress relieving temperature while in the lubricant, andsubsequently being cooled in the lubricant below the flash point of thelubricant. We have found that our method in addition to increasing thebreaking strength of the cable will not damage the cable, nor burn up afiber core when present. At the same time the rope is throrougblylubricated throughout.

In some instances, particularly when only a small amount of lubricationneed be provided on the rope, a lubricated rope can be stress relievedby passing through an atmosphere of nitrogen or other suitable gaswithout the lubricant being added in conduit 6.

Also, it is possible to use this apparatus for cleaning and stressrelieving wire rope when lubricant is not desired on the rope. In doingthis the conduit 6 is preferably slanted slightly upwardly toward thereel 2 and water instead of lubricant is delivered through conduit 28 toconduit 6. The flow of water to conduit 6 is so regulated that it turnsto steam when it comes in contact with the hot rope with the steam veryeffectively cleaning the rope of lubricant and other materials. Nitrogenor other suitable gas is preferably introduced through pipe 25 in thisoperation. Before reaching the air the temperature of the rope ispreferably below 500 F. A one inch 6 x 25 Independent Wire Rope Coremade of Type 304 Stainless Steel has been successfully cleaned andstress relieved at a temperature of l000l050 F. in this manner.

While several embodiments of our invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modificationsmay be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. The method of making a lubricated stranded ferrous base wirestructure comprising passing the stranded wire structure continuouslythrough a wire rope lubricant, heating the stranded wire structure whilesurrounded by said lubricant by induction heating to a temperature ofbetween 600 and 1100 F, and cooling said stranded wire structure 'whilesurounded by said lubricant to a temperature below the flash point ofsaid lubricant with the stranded wire structure retaining itslubrication following the stress relieving.

2. The method of stress relieving and lubricating ferrous base wire ropecomprising passing the rope continuously through a Wire rope lubricant,heating the rope While surrounded by said lubricant by induction heatingto a temperature of between 600 and 1100 F., cooling said wire ropewhile surrounded by said lubricant to a temperature below the flashpoint of said lubricant with the stranded wire structure retaining itslubrication following the stress relieving, passing said rope from saidlubricant, and then further cooling said rope.

3. The method of making a lubricated stranded ferrous base wirestructure comprising passing the stranded wire structure with wire ropelubricant thereon continuously through a non-oxidizing medium, heatingthe stranded wire structure by induction heating to a temperature ofbetween 600 and 1100 F. while in said medium, and cooling said strandedwire structure while in a non-oxidizing medium to a temperature belowthe flash point of said lubricant with the stranded wire structureretaining its lubrication following the stress relieving.

4. The method of making a lubricated stranded ferrous base wirestructure comprising passing the stranded wire structure with wire ropelubricant thereon continuously through a non-oxidizing medium, heatingthe stranded wire structure by induction heating to a temperature ofbetween 600 and 1100 F. while in said medium, and cooling said strandedwire structure while surrounded by wire rope lubricant to a temperaturebelow the flash point of said lubricant with the stranded wire structureretaining its lubrication following the stress relieving.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,463,412 Nachtman Mar. 1, 1949 2,549,666 Cope et a1. Apr. 17, 19512,625,495 Cone et a1 Jan. 13, 1953 2,880,739 Popp Apr. 7, 1959 2,930,724Rudd Mar. 29, 1960 2,932,502 Rudd et a1. Apr. 12, 1960 2,979,321Peterson Apr. 11, 1961 OTHER REFERENCES Metals Handbook, 1948 edition(pp. 237-243 relied upon).

1. THE METHOD OF MAKING A LUBRICATED STRANDED FERROUS BASE WIRESTRUCTURE COMPRISING PASSING THE STRANDED WIRE STRUCTURE CONTINUOUSLYTHROUGH A WIRE ROPE LUBRICANT, HEATING THE STRANDED WIRE STRUCTURE WHILESURROUNDED BY SAID LUBRICANT BY INDUCTION HEATING TO A TEMPERATURE OFBETWEEN 600* AND 1100* F., AND COOLING SAID STRANDED WIRE STRUCTUREWHILE SUROUNDED BY SAID LUBRICANT TO A TEMPERATURE BELOW THE FLASH POINTOF SAID LUBRICANT WITH THE STRANDED WIRE STRUCTURE RETAINING ITSLUBRICATION FOLLOWING THE STRESS RELIEVING.